Folding crate.



A. KRONEH.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. so, 1916.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A KRONER.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. so, 1916.

LQ38,@25 Patented Aug. 21, 191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ANDY KRONER, F MONESSEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917..

Application filed September 30, 1916. Serial No. 123,134.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDY Kroner, a citi zen of the United States,residing at Monessen, in the county of lVestmoreland and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in FoldingCrates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding crates.

The object of the invention is to provide a crate for shipping purposes,by means of which. goods may be shipped and the crate returned in aknocked down or folded position.

Another object is to provide means for retaining the different parts ofthe crate in position as they are folded, in order to facilitate thisoperation.

A still further object is to provide a durable and inexpensive crate,which may be used for the shipment of poultry, vegetables or othermerchandise.

- In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the folding crate constructed inaccordance with the present invention, shown in its set up position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same taken on a linethrough the sliding hinges;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing one of the end members in a raised orfolded position, illustrating the manner in which the hinge retains thismember in position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the crate folded;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken longitudinally through theslot plate carried by the bottom of the crate, and the hinge membercarried by the side, showing the same in position occupied when thecrate is set up, and also showing by dotted lines the position of thesame when the crate is folded;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the lock employed for holding thecrate set up.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating one of the hook and eyeconnections between the bottom and one of the side sections; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the position of one of the eyes forengagement with the hook when the crate is in its folded position.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts, the bottom of the crate is shown at 1. This bottomis preferably solid and has secured thereto along its end edges metalplates 2. These plates are formed with a longitudinal groove 3 withinwhich a headed pin at is adapted to slide, the said pin being carried byone of the sides 5 of the crate. Angular plates 6 having slots 7 aresecured to the side 5, the said side being formed with a socket 8 forthe reception of the headed pin 4: which projects through the slot. Theinner end of the slot 3 in the plate 2 is provided with an enlargement 9by means of which the headed pin 4 can be removed from the slot toenable the bottom and side to be separated. The side is formed with anopening 11, which is closed by a suitable wire grating 12, thisconstruction however if desired may be replaced by a panel in order tomeet certain conditions.

The top of the crate 13 is provided with a wire grating l l and hassecured to it short downwardly extending side sections 15 for use infolding the crate, as will appear later on.

Each of the sections 15 is provided with headed pins 16, which work inslots 17 formed in the angular plates 18 carried by the side section 5,and the opposite side section 19. The construction just describedprovides for slidably hinging the side sections 5 and 19 to the top, fora purpose presently apparent.

The top 13 carries headed studs 20 for en gagement with slots 21 in theangular plates 22 carried by each of the end members 23.

A pivoted hook 24 is provided within a socket 25 of the bottom, and isadapted to engage an opening 26 formed in the plate 27 secured to theedge of the side section 19. A ring 28 is secured to the pivot of thehook 2 1 to provide means for its operation.

Secured along the edges of the bottom, are end plates 29 which act as aguide for the side member 5 during the folding or setting .up operation.A hook 30 pivoted upon one side of the bottom 1 is adapted forengagement with an eye 31 carried by the side section 19, when the crateis in a set up position. A similar hook 32 is pivoted upon the oppositeside of the bottom 1 and engages an eye 33 upon the front section 5.Studs 34 carried by the ends of the crate, are so positioned as toengage sockets 35 formed in the plates;2 when the crate is set up. Asimilar stud 36 carried by the side section 19 is adapted to engage thesocket 37 in the bottom 1.

When it is desired to fold the crate, .the section 19 is first releasedby operating the hook 24 and the two end sectionsare folded upwardagainst the under side of the top, the pins 34 being firstdisengagedfromthe openings in the plates 2 by lifting the said endsections. The headed pins sliding within the slots .in :the angularaplates prevent the ends from .dropping downward. The side section-19and the ends are shoved in a direction away from :the hook :24. The sidesection 5 and :the end sections will then be neatly folded together, itbeing necessary to then fold the side section 19 upwardagainst the ends.of the crate. By pulling these folded members back in-the direction ofthe hook, :thestudscarried by the shortside sections 15 are caused toslide in their respective angular slots and 'lockthe sections 5-and 19against theends. The :folded sectionsare then pulled .over until theyare directly above the bottom 1, the studs of the =headed pins sliding:in the slots in the :plate 2 for this purpose. The hooks pivoted "tothe side edges of the bottom 1 are then engaged in the eyes .of the topelement and the crate is then securely formed in its collapsed or foldedposition.

It will be seen from the foregoing description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, that the invention provides a simple anddurable foldingcrate. constructed in such a way as to aid in theoperation of folding.

Copies .of :this patent may be .ohtained for Having described theinvention what I claim, is;

1. A crate comprising bottom, top, side and end sections, connectionswhereby the end sections may be folded upward and held against the topsection, connections whereby one ofthe side sections may be folded andheld against the said end sections, means connecting one of thesidesections with the bottom section to permit of the folding of the top,side and .end sections over the bottom section-and;means for locking thesaid sections in sfolded position.

.2. A folding crate comprising a bottom, top, sides and ends hingedandslidably connected together, said hinges-and slidingconnectionsconsisting of slotted plates having pivot pins slidable therein.

3. A folding crate comprising bottom, top, side and end sections,slotted plates secured tosaid bottom section, pivot pins carried by oneof the side sections and slidable in said slotted plates, sliding hingesfor connecting the other side, top and end sections, pins carried by theend sections for engagement llthrSOCkQtS provided in the bottom sect-ionand means located Within one wall of the crateand operable from theexterior thereof ANDY 'KRON'ER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissionerof -Patents, 'Washington,0.10.

